New Ulm weekly review., 1887-11-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, ID. G. Nov. 25,

gard in many respects as the most I'M
pOrtant that ever Assem- bled under our
form Of Government. Never before
has similar contingency existed where
the party in power propose to elect
Speaker whose right to a seat is very
questionable, and will be most serious
" contested. There are, numerous in
dications to strengthen the. belief that
the Administration intends to hold a
tight rein, and needs Just such man
as Mr.. Carlisle in the chair to efectu-
ally carry out the programme. The
possibility that the election Of the Pre-
sident may be thrown into the House,
renders the organization of that body
of the utmost Importance. While the
Republicans have q majority OF. the
States in the House, the Democrats
have majority Of the members. It
only needs a change Of two seats to
give the Democrats a majority Of the
States, and Mr. Carlisle committee on
elections vii! be organized for that
purpose. Indiana, for instance, has
seven Republicans and six Democrats,
and the seat Of one of the Republicans
is contested. Suppose Carlisle's part.
izan committee seats the Democrat, In
diana then passes into the Democratic
column. So with California, where
there is another contest, and so with
Michigan, where there are strong inti-
nations that a case will be made up.
The Administration is ready to resort
to desperate means to hold its power,
and the struggle will be a fierce one.
Several weeks ago alluded to Mr..
Mills, of Texas, radical free trader,
as the probable chairman of the COM
mittee on Ways and Means. He says
the question is settled, and that he has
that committee, which signifies red-hot
war on the present tariff system.
want to predict further that it will end
in buster, and that after all there will
be no material changes. The Demo
cratic party is good on ..dress parade,
but sadly deficient in materializing le-
gislation. II
During the war you will remember
that a large amount Of paper fractional
currency was issued, and the books at
the Treasury show that there is still
outstanding over 10000 Of that
currency, though it was called in more
than twelve years ago. There is none
in circulation now, and the question
comes up, where is it /? Has it been de-
stroyed, or is it held in bits by the peo-
pie as souvenirs !? In this connection
it is estimated that $2O,O0O,O00 Of cur
rency is annually destroyed by fire and
ship wreck, and possibly there is where
this fractional currency has gone.
Candidates for subordinate official
position in the organization Of, the next
House, are multiplying daily. The
Southern States are turning them out
by the score, and one would think from
the clamor that is the only section Of
the country that can furnish good dem
ocratic material. They want every
thing fror Clerk to Postmaster. North
ern democrats are disgusted with this
exhi ibition of arrogance, and threaten
lively times in caucus if this packing
process is to continue. ai 4.
For. the past three days there has
been all manner Of rumors in regard to
Cabinet changes, but up to this writing
no decisive action. The most plausible
story is that Villas will remain where he
is Senator Colquit, Of Georgia, takes
Lamar's place, and Governor Gordon
succeed Colquit in the Senate. Colquit
IS not talking man, Gordon is, and
the administration need more Of that
sort in the Senate to meet the Repub-
lican giants.
Ex-Secretary Chandler, Of the Navy,
now Senator from New Hampshire,
has several big guns loaded which he
will let off in due time about certain
naval contracts under this Administers
ton. Chandler never talks unless he
has something to say, and Secretary
" hitney may have to stand up and eE-
plain some very dubious transactions.
It is understood here that Chandler is
well equipped for the fray.
|, In his annual report, the Inspector
General Of steamboats, estimates that
during the past year SOC, 900, 600 pas
sengers were carried on steam vessels,
and out Of that vast aggregate, only
220 lives were lost. This would indi-
cate steamboats, as the safest mode of
travel.
| Fionres atathe Postoffice Department